Weft changing apparatus



y SPt 19, 19.67 i v. BARTOSEK ET AL 3,342,220

WEFT `CHANGING APPARATUS Filed sept. 1, 1965 4 sheetssheet 1 Filed Sept.l, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet SePt- 19, 1967 v. BARTOSEK ETAL 3,342,220

WEFT CHANGING APPARATUS Sept- 19,1967 y v. BARTQSEK ET' AL 3,342,220

WEFT CHANGING APARATUS I Filed sept. 11965 4 sheetsheet :s

A 55/ 36 J4 Edf 2 9 Sept 19, 1967 i v. BARTYOSEKV ETAL 3,342,220

`WEFT CHANGING APPARATUS Filled Sept. l, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 UnitedStates Patent O WEFT CHANGING APPARATUS Vladimir Bartosek, VilemJanousek, and Otto Rotrekl, Brno, Czechoslovakia, assignors to ElitexSdruzeni podniku textilniho strojirenstvi, Lberec, Czechoslovakia FiledSept. 1, 1965, Ser. No. 484,327

Claims priority, application Czechoslovakia, Sept. 2, 1964, 4,893/64 13Claims. (Cl. 139-122) The present invention relates to a weft changingapparatus for supplying different weft threads, and more particularlyweft threads of different colors, to a loom of the type in which thethread supply is not carried by the shuttle, but is stationarily mountedso that a gripper shuttle or needle draws the weft thread from thethread supply during the pick.

Weft changing devices provided in looms of this type in accordance withthe prior art, use a housing carrying thread guides and being movablebetween different positions in order to place the thread guides infeeding positions for guiding the thread, for example, into the gripperof a gripper shuttle. A disadvantage of this weft changing device isthat the housing moves different distances to place different threadguides in the operative feeding position so that the speed of the loomhas to be selected in accordance with the time necessary for carryingout the longest movement of the housing. Furthermore, the inertia of thehousing is substantial so that the loom cannot be operated at very highspeeds.

In another known weft changing device for this type of loom, each of thethread guides performs `an independent composite movement, and isshifted in longitudinal direction while turning to the feeding position.

A disadvantage of this type of weft changing device is that the threadguides of the device have to be different since they have to move alongpaths of different length between the normal inoperative position .andthe respective operative feeding position. Since the feeding position.

is not always the same, the weft ends are of different length.

It is one object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantagesof known weft changing devices for looms in which a weft inserting meansdraws different weft threads from separate weft supplies, and to providea weft changing apparatus of simple construction in which all threadguides perform the same motion, and are located in exactly the samefeeding position, when operated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a weft changing apparatusin which each of the thread guides performs a straight movement betweenthe inoperative position and the operative feeding position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a weft changing apparatusfor selectively supplying weft threads of different colors to a grippershuttle or other weft inserting means.

Another object of the invention is to provide cam meansV for positivelycontrolling the movement of the thread guides to and from the operativefeeding position, and

for temporarily locking the selected operative thread guide in thefeeding position.

Another object of the invention is to bias the thread guides to move tothe feeding position, and to block such movement of all thread guides,but one which is released by program controlled selector means.

With these objects in view, the present invention relates to a weftchanging apparatus for supplying different weft threads, for examplethreads of different colors, in accordance with a program Vto thegripper shuttle or other weft inserting means of a loom. One embodimentof the invention comprises support means having guideways 3,342,22@Patented Sept. 19, 1967 for guiding needle-like thread guides between aninoperative position and a feeding position for feeding the respectivethread to a weft inserting means, and means for moving only one selectedthread guide to the feeding position.

In accordance with the invention, the axes of the guideways of thesupport means intersect .at a point, and any selected thread guide ismoved to a feeding position in which a guide portion, for example an eyefor the thread, is located at the point of intersection of the axes ofthe guideways. As a result, each of the different weft threads is guidedby the guide portion of the selected operative thread guide to the samepoint which is disposed in relation to the gripper shuttle, for example,so that the respective weft thread is inserted into the gripper of theshuttle, and is drawn during the following pick from the respective weftsupply, which may be a criss-cross wound package.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, springs urge the threadguide to the operative feeding position, but the movement of all threadguides is blocked by independently operable blocking members, which arespring loaded to assume a blocking position. Each blocking member iscontrolled by an electromagnetic selector means which, when energized,will move the respective blocking member to a position releasing therespective thread guide so that the same can be moved by its spring tothe feeding position, while all other thread guides remain blocked. Theseveral electromagnetic selector means are selectively energized inaccordance with a program under control of a program tape, or from thecard mechanism of a dobby.

In order to rigidly hold the operative thread guide in the feedingposition, reciprocable cam means are provided with cam slots for guidinga cam follower onthe respective selected thread guide. The same cam slotis used for returning the thread guide from the feeding position to thenormal inoperative position during an opposite reciprocating stroke ofthe cam means.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompany` ing drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating a weft changing apparatusaccording to the invention with the thread guide in inoperativepositions;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on line II-II in FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in FIG. 2 along lineIIL-III;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating a detail as viewedin the direction of the arrow 4 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan View of the weft changing apparatus shownin FIG. 1 in a different operational position in which a selected threadguide is operative; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line VI-VI in FIG. 5.

Referring now to the drawings, the illustrated embodiment has fourthread guides 4 provided with slanted eyes 5 for guiding weft threads 6of different colors from independent weft supply packages 7, of whichonly one is shown in FIG. 2. A corresponding weft changing apparatus,and corresponding weft supply packages, are provided on the other sideof the loom. Gripper shuttles, not shown, are picked in the usual mannerfrom opposite sides of the loom, and receive a weft thread of aparticular selected Color by an operative thread guide 4 in` wardly ofthe eyes of the inoperative thread guides, and in the region of thegripper of the gripper shuttle, not shown.

While in the illustrated embodiment, four thread guides are provided oneither side of the loom, it will be appreciated, that two, three, ormore than four thread guides can be provided on each side of the loornin accordance with the number of colors to be used for the wefts of thefabric depending on the desired pattern.

A weft thread of different color may be supplied to each of the threadguides 4, so that altogether eight weft colors may be combined forWeaving a patterned fabric with the thread guides 4 of the illustratedembodiment. The drawing illustrates a weft changing apparatus on oneside of the loom, and it will be understood that an identical apparatusis provided on the other side of the loom so that the warp sheds areformed between the two weft changing devices.

Four units A, B, C, D are mounted in angularly displaced positions on asupport plate 1. Each unit includes a support member 3 having a pair ofend portions secured by screws 2 to support plate 1 and having guideways3a to 3b in which thread guides 4 are mounted for longitudinal slidingmovement. Support plate 1 and support members 3 are support means forthe thread guides on plate 1 carrying four units is secured on eitherside of the woven fabric to lateral frame parts, not shown, of the loom.The axes of each four thread guides intersect at a point X, the twopoints X being located in a vertical plane passing substantially throughthe fell of the fabric where the weft threads are beaten. Each threadguide 4 has an eye 5 slanted at a suitable angle to guide a weft threadfrom a corresponding criss cross wound package 7 into the region of theselvedge of a fabric 8. The packages 7 are disposed laterally of theloom and fabric outwardly of the respective weft changing apparatus.Each package is disposed on a straight line connecting the fell of thefabric in the region of the selvedge with the slanted eye 5 of aretracted thread guide 4, as shown in FIG. 2. A block 10 is secured by ascrew 9 to each thread guide 4, and carries a rotatable cam followerroller 13 on a pivot pin, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. A spring 11 issecured to an ear 12a on a projection 12 of member 3, and to an ear 10aon block 10 so that each thread guide 4 is urged to move from theposition shown in FIG. 2 to the position shown in FIG. 6.

Each block 10 has a projecting arm 28 with a hook normally abutting theend 35 of a pivoted blocking member shown to be a pawl 29 mounted on apivot 30 secured to a U-shaped casing 31, which is secured to member 3,as best seen in FIG. 4. A spring 32 abutting casing 31 urges pawl 29against a stop 33 so that pawl 29 is normally in a blocking positionpreventing movement of the respective thread guide 4 under the action ofspring 11 by engaging the hook shaped member 28.

vAn electromagnetic selectively actuated means 34 is mounted on eachcasing 31 and has an armature cooperating with the pivoted blockingmember 29 which is moved out of its blocking position shown in FIG. 2 toa releasing position located more closely to electromagnetic means 34and permitting hook member 28 to pass the end face 35 of blocking member29 so that the respective thread guide is moved by spring 11 to theoperative position shown in FIG. 6. Thereupon, the electromagnetic means34 may be deenergized so that spring 32 turns blocking member 29 back toits normal blocking position abutting stop 33, as shown in FIG. 6.

Electromagnetic means 34 of the several units A, B, C, D are selectivelyactuated and energized in accordance with a program in the usual manner.A perforated tape may control switches 39 shown in FIG. 6 which areconnected in series with each of the electromagnetic means 34. The cardmechanism of a dobby may also be used in which event switches 39 areoperated in a conventional manner by the card mechanism. A switch 39 isconnected into one of conductors 36, 37 which connect the terminals of avoltage source 38 with each electromagnetic selector means 34.

Support plate 1 has a guide 1a extending transverse to the directions ofthe guideways 3a and of thread guides 4. A cam slide 15 is mounted inguideway 1a and has two thin lateral portions 24 and 25 respectivelylocated under the end members 3 so that cam slide 15 is confined andguided for reciprocating movement along guideway 1a.

Cam slide 15 has a higher central portion 23 formed with cam slots 14which are slanted to the directions of guideways 1a and 3a, and open inthe region of the lower portion 25 of cam slide 15. The other ends ofthe cam slots are closed, and the cam slot end portions 27 extendparallel to the direction of movement of cam slide 15. Abutments 26 areformed by the higher portion 23 between adjacent cam slots 14.

A link 21 is articulated to one end of cam slide 15 and to a camfollower lever 19 which is turnable about a pivot 20. A cam followerroller 18 on lever 19 cooperates with a rotary cam 17 driven by a shaft16 in timed relationship with the main drive shaft of the loom so thatthe reciprocating movement of cam slide 15 is synchronized with thepicking of the shuttle and the operation of the slay of the loom. Lever19 is connected by spring 22 to the support plate 1 which is secured ina suitable manner to the stationary frame, not shown, of the loom.

In the normal inoperative position of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, thecam follower rollers 13 of the thread guide means 4, 10 are urged bysprings 11 against the abutments 26. Hook members 28 of blocks 10 areslightly spaced from the ends 35 of blocking members 29 so that the samedo not have to sustain the force of the strong springs 11.

When cam slide 15 is moved in a first stroke from the end position shownin FIGS. l and 2 to the end position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the camslide passes through an intermediate position in which all cam followerrollers 13 register with the open ends of the slanted cam slots 14, asshown in FIG. 5 for the units A and B in a further advanced position ofthe cam slide. Springs 11 urged thread guides 4 and blocks 10 with hookmembers 28 to move into the slots, but such movement is stopped by theend portion 35 of the respective blocking members 29. However, if aselected blocking member has been moved by the respective energizedelectromagnetic means 34 to a releasing position out of the way of hookmember 28, spring 11 will draw the respective thread guide toward theleft as viewed in FIG. 5 so that the cam follower roller 13 of theselected thread guide will move into the respective cam slot 14, asshown for unit C in FIG. 5. While cam slide 15 continues its movement inthe direction of the arrow, cam follower roller 13 of unit C moves intoslot end portion 27 so that thread guide 4 of the respective unit isstopped and held in a precisely determined operative feeding positionwithout being able to move forward, or back to its inoperative positionunder the pressure of the slay acting on the shuttle whose gripperspring is engaged and operated by the tip of the thread guide. Cam slide15 and biassing springs 11 are control means for moving the threadguides between inoperative and feeding positions.

When cam slide 15 is moved in the opposite recoprocating stroke, the camfollower rollers 13 of inoperative units will move along abutments 26,while cam followers roller 13 of an actuated unit will be urged alongthe slanted cam slot 14 so that the mechanical means 14 to 21 move therespective thread guide means 4, 10 back to its inoperative position inwhich cam follower roller 13 rests on an abutment 26.

For feeding a weft thread of a particular color to the gripper shuttleof the loom, the device is operated in the following manner:

Cam means 15 is initially in the position of FIG. 1, and all threadguides 4 are in a retracted position in which cam follower rollers 13rest on abutments 26. All electromagnetic means 34 are deenergized, andblocking members 29 are in the blocking position shown in FIG. 2separated by gaps from the hook members 28.

In accordance with the pattern determined program of the loom, one ofthe selectively actuated electromagnetic means 34 receives a controlpulse and is energized so that the respective blocking member 29 israised against the action of spring 32 to a position located out of thepath of movement of hook member 28. However, the respective thread guidemeans cannot yet move under the action of spring 11 since its camfollower roller 13 abuts an abutment 26.

Cam 17 permits spring 22 to draw cam means 15 from the end positionshown in FIG. 1 to the end position shown in FIG. 5. In the latter endposition, and also in the preceding intermediate position of cam means15, cam follower rollers register with the open ends of the slanted camslots 14 and are urged by the respective springs 11 to move into thesame. Only the cam follower roller of the unit C whose electromagneticmeans 34 was energized, can enter the respective cam slots 14 since allother thread guide means are blocked by engagement between hook members28 and blocking members 29.

The thread guide 4 of unit C is moved to the operative feeding positionin which its eye 5 is located at the point of intersection X where theaxes of all angularly spaced thread guides 4 and of the guideways 3aintersect. As best seen in FIG. 6, the eye 5 of the respective guideportion at the forward end of the operative thread guide 4, is locatedin the region of the last weft of fabric 8 so as to feed the weft thread6 into a gripper shuttle, not shown located between fabric 8 and eye 5.After the insertion, the last weft is cut off by cutting means, notshown, in the usual manner so that the gripper shuttle, when picked fromthe illustrated side of the fabric to the other side of the same, willdraw the weft thread 6 through eye 5 while winding the thread off therespective thread supply package 7.

During this operation, cam follower roller 13 of the actuated unit C islocated in .the slot end portion 27 so that -thread guide 4 cannot bepushed back by the pressure of the weft thread, or be moved forward. bythe pull of spring 11. Consequently, irrespectively of which threadguide 4 is actuated and moved to the operative feeding position, itsguide portion with eye 5 will be located in exactly the same location inrelation to the fabric and the shuttle or other weft inserting means.

When the pick has been completed, the return stroke of cam `means startsunder the control of cam `17 so that cam follower rollers 13 ofnon-actuated units A, B, D roll on the respective abutment 26, while camfollower roller 13 of the actuated unit C is forced along the respectiveslanted cam slot 14 against the action of spring 11 which acts on therespective thread guide means 4, 10, 28 to move out of the cam slot andtoa position resting on the respective abutment 26, as shown in FIG. 1.

Near the end of the movement of a previously selected thread guide means4, 10, 28 to the normal inoperative position shownin FIGS. l and 2, hookmember 28 engages blocking member 29 and rises the same slightly againstthe action of spring 32 until arriving in the position of FIG. 2 inwhich blocking member 29 is released byhook member 28 to snap to theblocking position abutting stop 33 under the action of spring 32; Camslot 14 and abutment 26 move hook member 28 slightly beyond thisposition so that a gap is formed between' the end face 35 of blockingmember 29 and hook member 28.

The next weft inserting cycle may now begin in which an impulse may begiven to 'another electromagnetic means 34 in accordance with-thepattern determined program whereupon cam means 15 starts itsreciprocating movement to move the selected thread guide to theoperative feeding position.

Corresponding selecting and feeding operations are carried out by theweft changing device on the other side of the loom alternately with theabove described operations so that the colors of alternate wefts arecontrolled by the two weft changing devices.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofweft changing devices diifering from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in aweft changing apparatus for selectively placing the thread guiding eyeof any one selected thread guide in exactly the same location, it is notintended to be limited to the details shown, since various modificationsand structural changes may be made without departing in any way from thespirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic `or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Weft changing apparatus for supplying different weft threads to aloom, comprising, in combination, a set of thread guides for guidingsaid different threads, respectively; support means for guiding each ofsaid thread guides between an inoperative position and a feedingposition for feeding the respective thread to a weft inserting means,control means including biassing means and reciprocating mechanicalmeans for holding said thread guides in said feeding position and formoving said thread guides to said inoperative position; a set ofblocking means for blocking movement of said thread guides,respectively, from said inoperative position to said feeding position;and selectively actuated means for operating one selected blockinglmeans to release the respective selected thread guide for movement bysaid biasing means to said feeding position.

2. Weft changing apparatus for supplying different weft threads to aloom, comprising, in combination, a set of thread guides having guideportions for guiding said different threads, respectively; support meansfor guiding each lof said thread guides between an inoperative positionand a feeding position for feeding the respective thread to a weftinserting means, said guide portion of each of said thread guides insaid feeding position being located in the same location; control meansfor moving said thread guides between said inoperative and feedingpositions and including biassi'ng means for urging said thread guides tosaid feeding position, and cam means controlling movement of said threadguides to said inoperative position; a set of blocking means forblocking movement of said thread guides, respectively, from saidinoperative position to said feeding position; and selectively actuatedmeans for operating one selected blocking means to release therespective selected thread guide for movement by said control means tosaid feeding position.

3. Weft changing apparatus for supplying different Weft threads to aloom, comprising, in combination, a set of thread guides having guideportions for guiding said different threads, respectively; support meansfor guiding each of said thread guides between an inoperative positionand a feeding position for feeding the respective thread to a weftinserting means, said guide portion of each of said thread guides insaid feeding position being located in the same location; biasing meansfor urging each of said thread guides from said inoperative positiontoward said feeding position; reciprocating mechanical means for holdingsaid thread guides in said feeding position and for moving said threadguides to said inoperative position; blocking means for blockingmovement of said thread guides to said feeding position; and selectivelyactuated means operating said blocking means so that the same releasesonly one selected thread guide for movement under the action of saidbiassing means to said feeding position so that only one selected threadguide is moved to said feeding position.

4. Weft changing apparatus for supplying different weft threads to aloom, comprising, in combination, a set of thread guides having guideportions for guiding said different threads, respectively; a camfollower means on each thread guide; support means for guiding each ofsaid thread guides between an inoperative position and a feedingposition for feeding the respective thread to a weft inserting means,said guide portion of each of said thread guides in said feedingposition being located in the same location; biassing means for urgingeach of said thread guides from said inoperative position toward saidfeeding position; movable cam means having cam tracks cooperating withsaid cam follower means, respectively, for moving said thread guidesfrom said feeding position to said inoperative position; blocking meansfor blocking movement of said thread guides to said feeding position;and electromagnetic selectively actuated means controlling said blockingmeans for releasing only one selected thread guide for movement underthe action of said biassing means to said feeding position so that onlyone selected thread guide is moved to said feeding position.

5. Weft changing apparatus for supplying different weft threads to aloom, comprising, in combination, a set of thread guides; a ca-mfollower means on each thread guide; support means for guiding each ofsaid thread guides between an inoperative position and a feedingposition; biassing means for urging each of said thread guides from saidinoperative position toward said feeding position; movable cam 4meanshaving cam tracks cooperating with said cam follower means,respectively, for moving said thread guides from said feeding positionto said inoperative position; blocking means for blocking movement ofsaid thread guides to said feeding position; and electromagneticselectively actuated means controlling said blocking means for releasingonly one selected thread guide for movement under the action of saidbiassing means to said feeding position so that only one selected threadguide is moved to said feeding position.

6. Weft changing apparatus for selectively supplying weft threads ofdifferent colors to a loom, comprising, in combination, support meanshaving a plurality of angularly spaced guide ways Whose axes intersectat a point, and another guide way crossing said guide ways; a set ofangularly spaced thread guides respectively mounted in said guide waysfor movement between an inoperative position and a feeding position,each thread guide having a guide portion for guiding one of said threadsand located at said point of intersection in said feeding position;biassing means connected to each of said thread guides for urging thesame into said feeding position; cam means mounted on said support meansin said other guide way for translatory movement between two endpositions in a direction transverse to the directions of movements ofsaid thread guides, said cam means having a set of cam slots having-open slot portions slanted to said directions and abutments betweenadjacent cam slot portions; a cam follower secured to each thread guideand urged by said biasing means to abut said abutments in one endposition of said cam means for holding said thread guides in saidinoperative positions; means for reciprocating said cam means betweensaid end positions and an intermediate position in which said camfollowers respectively register with said open cam slot portions;blocking means for blocking movement of said thread guides from saidinoperative to said feeding position in Said intermediate position ofsaid cam means; and selectively actuated means controlling said blockingmeans for releasing only one selected thread guide for movement underthe action of said biassing means into the respective cam slot portionin said intermediate position so that during the movement of said cammeans to the other end position said cam follower, moving in therespective cam slot, moves the respective selected thread guide to saidfeeding position, and during the return stroke of said cam means to saidone end position, moves the respective thread guide back to saidinoperative position.

'7. A weft changing apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said cammeans is a cam slide having two thin lateral portions and a highercentral portion formed with said cam slots and having an edge formingsaid abutments between said slots, said slots being open at said edge.

8. A weft changing apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein each camslot has a closed slot end portion eX- tending parallel to the directionof said other guide way so that said cam follower is confined in saidslot end portion in said other end position of said cam means wherebythe respective thread guide is r-mly held in said feeding position.

9. A weft changing apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein saidblocking means includes a plurality of blocking members mounted on saidsupport means for movement between a blocking position and a releasingposition, and spring means for urging each blocking member into saidblocking position; wherein said selector means includes a plurality ofelectromagnetic means mounted on said support means and respectivelycooperating with said blocking members for moving a selected blockingmember from said blocking position to said releasing position; andincluding a member secured to each thread guide and having a portioncooperating with the respective blocking member in said blockingposition to block movement of the respective thread guide from saidinoperative position to said feeding position when the respective camfollower roller registers with the respective cam slot in saidintermediate position of said cam means.

10. A weft changing apparatus as set forth in claim 9 including a blockadjustably secured to each thread guide means, said block having aprojecting hook portion forming said member cooperating with saidblocking member, said cam follower being a roller mounted on said block.

l1. A weft changing apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein saidsupport means include a support plate, and a plurality of supportmembers respectively secured to said support plate and having saidangularly spaced guide ways for said thread guides, each support memberhaving a slot extending in the direction of the respective thread guide;and wherein said block of each thread guide is located in said slot ofthe respective supporting member.

12. A weft changing apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein saidbiassing means includes a plurality of springs respectively secured tosaid supporting members and to said blocks for urging said blocks withthe respective thread guides toward said feeding position.

13. A weft changing apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said guideportion has an eye slanted to extend substantially in the direction of athread passing therethrough from the respective thread supply means tothe women fabric.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,474,416 11/1923 Hathaway139-122 2,814,315 11/1957 Lyle et al. 139-122 MERVIN STEIN, PrimaryExaminer.

HENRY S. JAUDON, Examiner.

1. WEFT CHANGING APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING DIFFERENT WEFT THREADS TO ALOOM, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A SET OF THREAD GUIDES FOR GUIDINGSAID DIFFERENT THREADS, RESPECTIVELY; SUPPORT MEANS FOR GUIDING EACH OFSAID THREAD GUIDES BETWEEN AN INOPERATIVE POSITION AND A FEEDINGPOSITION FOR FEEDING THE RESPECTIVE THREAD TO A WEFT INSERTING MEANS,CONTROL MEANS INCLUDING BIASSING MEANS AND RECIPROCATING MECHANICALMEANS FOR HOLDING SAID THREAD GUIDES IN SAID FEEDING POSITION AND FORMOVING SAID THREAD GUIDES TO SAID INOPERATIVE POSITION; A SET OFBLOCKING MEANS FOR BLOCKING MOVEMENT OF SAID THREAD GUIDES,RESPECTIVELY, FROM SAID INOPERATIVE POSITION TO SAID FEEDING POSITION;AND SELECTIVELY ACTUATED MEANS FOR OPERATING ONE SELECTED BLOCKING MEANSTO RELEASE THE RESPECTIVE SELECTED THREAD GUIDE FOR MOVEMENT BY SAIDBIASING MEANS TO SAID FEEDING POSITION.